Page 110 of Veil of Obsession

She flinches, the betrayal in her face twisting into something deep, something raw. And for a split second, I want to take it back.

But I don’t. Because she fucking deserves it.

I step back, keeping distance, keeping the wall up between us. “I have to go back to New York.”

Her lip trembles, but she swallows it down, forcing herself to stay strong. “Why?”

I stare at her, feeling something twist deep in my gut. Because I should say it. I should tell her that she’s nothing but a problem. That she’s nothing but a burden. That I should have let my brothers handle her.

Instead, I say the one thing that I know will cut the deepest. “Because I have responsibilities that don’t include babysitting a fucking traitor.”

Her face goes blank. Like I just ripped out her fucking soul.

I don’t let it show that it kills me to say it. That it guts me to hurt her like this. I turn before I do something I’ll regret.

Before I break. Before I fucking apologize.

She doesn’t stop me this time. She just stands there, watching me walk away.

And as I step outside, feeling the night air bite at my skin, I don’t know if I’m leaving to save her…

Or to save myself.

40

Lucio

Iget back to New York after dropping her off in New Hampshire, somewhere my brothers hopefully won’t look. The sky is already dark, swirling as if a storm is brewing. I take the elevator to my penthouse, wanting to be out of my clothes and in the shower as quickly as possible.

But that plan comes to a halt when my eyes land on Emiliano, Matteo, Romiro and Dominico, all sitting in my living room. Waiting for me.

Fuck.

“Is there a party I don’t know about?” I ask, trying to figure out if they know or if they’re here for something else.

“Cut the shit, Lucio. I know everything,” Emiliano says, his gaze sharp, unflinching.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The others stay quiet, none of them interfering.

“I’m not going to entertain this any further. You need to give up the Gambi girl or shit will get ugly.” He stands from the couch and stalks toward me.

“And like I said, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

My brother moves fast, slamming me against the wall, his fists gripping me by the collar. “You either give her up, or I won’t hesitate to kill you for being a traitor.”

I grit my teeth. Hell will freeze over before I give her up. She’s mine.

“That’s rich coming from you.”

That seems to send him into a frenzy, because he cocks his fist back and slams it into my face. Everyone scrambles to get Eli off me, but he manages another swing before he’s yanked back.

“Should’ve let me get a punch in at least,” I say, wiping the blood from the corner of my mouth.

Fuck. My face is throbbing with pain.

“I’m giving you a chance, Lucio. You either hand the Gambi girl over and let her face the music or we’ll find her. You know we will. And when we do find her, both of you will face the consequences.”